French Socialists back Macron in upcoming election

World Today

A montage of French national newspaper front pages reporting on the winners of the first round of the French presidential election, centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, are displayed in Paris, France, Monday, April 24, 2017. French voters shut out the country’s political mainstream from the presidency for the first time in the country’s modern history, and on Monday found themselves being courted across the spectrum for the runoff election. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

Published April 24, 2017 at 1:11 PM Updated August 14, 2017 at 2:22 PM

The leader of the French Socialists said on Monday (April 24) that he would vote for centrist Emmanuel Macron in the presidential election’s run-off as his party picked over the ruins of a campaign which saw their candidate unable to scrape seven per cent of the vote.

“President Marine Le Pen? Never. We have to block the far-right and vote for republican values,” Jean-Christophe Cambadelis told journalists.

The party would mobilize behind the campaign of the former economy minister and onetime socialist Macron to ensure the defeat of the far right, he added.

Their official candidate Benoit Hamon won the party’s presidential primary in January but his campaign failed to take off saddled with the unpopular government’s record and outflanked on all sides by Macron and a resurgent leftist candidate.

“The Socialists were not judged on their record or their manifesto but on their ability to win the second round,” he said.

Later in the day, French President Francois Hollande too called on supporters to vote for Macron.

Story by The Associated Press, Reuters, and Statista.

In this photo combination, French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron waves before he addresses his supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris, Sunday April 23, 2017, left, and far-right candidate for the presidential election Marine Le Pen waves at supporters after she delivers a speech during a meeting in Bordeaux, southwestern France, Sunday, April 2, 2017, right. (AP Photo/ Christophe Ena/ Bob Edme)

Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.